Sharp increase in unemployment rates in December

Staff Report

POSTED:February 14, 2008 5:02 a.m.

ATLANTA - The unemployment rate in the metro Hinesville area rose to 4.7 percent in December, up one-half of one percent from 4.2 percent in November, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.The numbers mirrored a troubling trend statewide.The magnitude of the November to December increase is troubling. This represents the largest statewide increase for that time period in over 30 years," state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said.The state's unemployment rate stood at 4.6 percent in December, up four-tenths of one percent from 4.2 percent in November and two-tenths of one percent from 4.4 percent in December of 2006, Thurmond said.The current state rate is two-tenths of one percent lower than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.8 percent.The state's rate increased in December because the number of people unemployed rose by 19,630, due mainly to job losses in manufacturing, construction, and some service-related industries, combined with modest job creation, Thurmond said.Metro Savannah's unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in December, up one-half of one percent from 3.4 percent in November.The Coastal Georgia area's unemployment rate rose to 4.0 percent in December, up four-tenths of one percent from 3.6 percent in November.Thurmond's department characterized the changtes in all the numbers as "a sharp rise in unemployment."From November to December, preliminary data show Georgia added 4,100 payroll jobs, primarily among seasonal workers in retail trade. In metro Hinesville, the number of jobs was down 100, or one-half of one percent, from 19,100 to 19,000. In metro Savannah, the number of jobs was up 200, or one-tenth of one percent, from 162,900 to 163,100.Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.